Existing infrastructure requires timely maintenance to enhance public safety. Clear markings and signage are crucial across the State, as citizens face risks from outdated, unsafe structures. Many stormwater drains are uncovered, broken, or lack basic safety features. These drains should be channelled alongside roads with service chambers covered by cast iron mesh. Dilapidated electrical fixtures, like uncovered junction boxes with exposed 220v wires, pose life-threatening dangers and need prompt replacement. Redundant electric poles, which attract hazardous attachments like old cables and hoardings, should be removed, with new cables routed underground.
Garbage enclosures lacking proper safety standards need better insulation to protect passersby from exposure to waste. Pavements, especially those used by seniors, are in disrepair, with missing tiles and unstable surfaces leading to frequent falls. Beach drownings can be reduced by designating swimming zones staffed by lifeguards, while dangerous areas with strong undercurrents should be marked as no-swim zones. Similar, restrictions should apply to waterfalls, with appropriate signage warning of hazards.
Perennial potholes on roads should be repaired using a tar-bitumen mix with plastic waste, a durable solution that can extend road life by over three years. Tree branches overhanging roads should be trimmed before the monsoon season. Coastal zones should be monitored by drones or floating sensors to detect foreign intrusions. Additionally, research and development centres should be established to study new discoveries and report findings.
